Traffic surprises as Valley Brook roadwork begins

Published May 23, 2013 at 10:33 am
(Updated May 23, 2013 at 10:33 am)

Construction began on the Valley Brook Road intersection on May 22.
Katie Roupe / Observer-ReporterOrder a Print

Traffic was flowing as well as could be expected on May 22 after the intersection at Old Washington and Valley Brook roads, and the ramp to and from Valley Brook to Washington roads in Peters Township were closed for a 14-month reconstruction and realignment project. More than 11,000 vehicles are now finding alternate routes.

Township police Chief Harry Fruecht said several hours after the road closure that he was pleasantly surprised at the lack of traffic congestion along the alternate routes, such as East McMurray Road. He used the word “shocked” at how smooth the traffic flowed but, he added fluctuations in traffic are being anticipated. The chief said police received only one call Wednesday regarding the closure.

The nearly $5 million project will continue until at least July 2014 with the result being a realigned and widened intersection with the ramp and Old Washington Road.

Shelly Belcher, a spokeswoman for the Peters Township School District, said since the actual closure did not occur until 8 a.m., students were already in classes at the high school and middle school, with both buildings being along East McMurray Road.

She called the morning rush to school “relatively uneventful.”

Throughout the day, although traffic along the alternate routes was heavy, vehicles continued to flow.

A telephone call to Michael Silvestri, township manager, was not returned.